Gail Kerry is president of the Fallbrook Gem and Mineral Society, which operates the Fallbrook Gem and Mineral Museum﻿. The group meets monthly except in July and August. Andy Wilhelm • U-T photos

The Fallbrook Gem & Mineral Society was established in 1957, and nearly 60 years later, it’s still going strong.

From monthly meetings featuring informative speakers, show-and-tell opportunities, and raffles; to field trips to explore the great outdoors; to folks who make jewelry together on Saturdays — the society remains an active and fun way to engage in the field of gems and minerals.

It’s not just a bunch of rock collectors, but members do collect rocks and more, said longtime member Janice Bricker.

“We have a lot of fun,” said Bricker, who has been a member for 50 years.

The group has more than 100 members of all ages, from retirees to families, she said. At the meetings, there is always something new to learn, she said.

“We always have a guest speaker, and usually it’s a pretty well-known speaker,” Bricker said, adding that often the person who gives the keynote address hails from the Gemological Institute of America, based in Carlsbad.

Mine owners and other academics also give talks, she said.

“We have a lot of really good talks pertaining to gems and minerals,” she said.

At the meetings, members have a chance to purchase donations to the society’s museum before they go on display. The meetings also consist of raffles for jewelry or other small items, she said.

Often, members go on field trips together, and they’re quite enjoyable, Bricker said.

“They’ll go out to different places in the desert or in the mountains to look for rocks,” she said. “They find rocks to add to their collections, there’s the fun of collecting.”

General membership meetings run from 7 to 9 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month, with a few exceptions. The group meets on the third Thursday in February and there are no meetings scheduled in July and August. The meetings take place in a room adjacent to the museum at 123 West Alvarado St. in Fallbrook.

The annual dues are $25 for a member and $45 if it’s a duo, plus a $6 activation fee.